Detachable traction lug for tractor wheels



Nov. 5 1923. 1,473,398

C. S. BURTCN DETACHABLE TRACTION LUG FOR TRACTOR WHEELS Original Filed May 51, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 6 1923. 1,473,398

c. s. BURTON DETACHABLE TRACTION LUG FOR TRACTOR WHEELS Original Filed May 31, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 jz'la Nov. 6, 1923;

V C. S. BURTON DETACHABLE TRACTION we FOR TRACTOR WHEELS Original Filed May 31, 1919 4 Sheets-S heer, s

Nov. 6, 1923. 1,473,398 C. S. BURTON DETACHABLE TRACTI N LUG FOR, TRACTOR WHEELS Driginal F le M y 31, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fatented Nov. 5, 1923.

FUNITEED STATES times PATENT orsiicsg CHARLES s. BURTON, or OAK PARK,-IL LrNoIs.

DE'I'AGHABLE TRACTION LUG r03 TRACTOR WHEELS.

lhpplication filed May 31, 1919, Serial No. 300,989. Renewed April 7, 1923.

To rzZZ whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, ha vo invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Detachable Traction Lugs for Tractor Vvheels, of which the folshown and described, as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a segment of a tractor wheel rim having lugs embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view segment. 7 V

Figure 3 is asection of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2. 1

Figure 4 is a section at the line, 4l4, on

Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail wheel rim at a point at which there is mounted a bolt for initially'holding thefirs lug of the system in assembling the systenr of lugs on the wheel rim, the bolt being shown fully set down into the rim out of the position of use for I being in the position occupied When the wheel in travel either with or without lugs. Y

Figure (5 is a plan view of a special twoinembered lug for connecting the first and last regular lugs of the system, said special lug being shown upon a short segment of' the wheel rim. together with the end portions of the adjacent first and last lugs of the system.

Figure "7 is a section at the line 77 on Figure 6, showingthe tightening device co-operating with said two-membered lug.

Figure 8 is a detail section at the line 8-8 on Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a plan View of a difi'erent form of tightening device which involves a modified form of the two-membered lug.

of a similar section through the the purpose mentionedl' Figure 10 is aside elevation of a segment of a tractor Wheel rim provided with traction lugs of a modified form of this invention.

ment. 7 e e Figure 11 is a partly sectional edge elevation of one oft v shown in Figures 10 and 10, section-being made through the pivot of one end of the lug to the next element of the system;

;Figure 12 is a plan view secutive lugs. I Figure 13 1S :1. detail section at'the line 13-13 of Figure 10.

to the right hand'end portion of Figure 4 nthe modified form of the invention shown in Figures .9 to 13 inclusive.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of a segment equipped with a x of a tractor wheel rim second modified form of this nvention.

Figure 16 is a partly sectional edge elevation of one of the traction lugs of said second modified form, section beingfljmade through the end portions comprising the pivot openings.

Figure 17 is ashown in Figure Figure 18 is Figure 17.

plan view 15. I a section at line. 1S18 on of the segment Figure 1 9 is adetail section at the line 19 49 on Figured v Figure 20 1s a detail SQCtlOIl corresponding to the righthand end of Figure 7 in this second modified form, shown in Figures 15 to 18 inclusive.

Figure '21 is a side elevation of a segment of a tract-or wheel having traction lugs embodying' a third modification of this invent on.

Figure 22 segment.

Figure is' a detail section 2323;on "Figure 22. v p r I a Figure' Qet isa detail sectionof the form shown in Figures 22 and 23 at a'plane C01- is a plan view of a similar at the line responding to that of the'left hand end of:

Figure Tin this third modificationl Y Figure 25 is a detail section-of'the form shown in Figures 22 and 23 at a plane corresponding to that or" the right hand end of Figure 7. I r

Figure 26 isa side elevation of one ofthe tractor lugs of the form shown in Figure 22;

Figure 10 isa plan view'of a siniilar seg' ne tractor lugs of the form of said next ad acent element, being a connector fore-om:

F igure let is a detail section correspondin In all the forms shown in the drawings, 1, represents the tread rim of the tractor wheel which when stripped of the lugs presents a smooth fiat face to the roadway, that is a face devoid of irregularities or transverse curvature. In all the figures illustrating the diiierent forms of traction lugs, except the side elevations of the segment of the wheel having the lugs mounted upon it. the slight curvature of the lugs lengthwise which would be involved in their seating ob liquely upon the tread rim, is disregarded, being too slight for accurate representation; but it is to be understood that the lugs are preferably in practice slightly curved lengthwise to accommodate the curvature of the wheel rim, across which they extend at an angle which may vary from 45 a few degrees either way.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive,-the regular lugs 2 being shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,-these lugs are all identical in form (with the exception of the terminal of one of them as hereinafter described), each lug having at one end an upraise 2 under which the end 2 ot the adjacent lug enters, said entering end 2 being of the form of the opposite end of the first mentioned lu and said upraised end has a pivot stud or pint-1e 2 projecting down for entering a pivot opening 2 which is provided in the end 2 of the adjacent lug, (the opposite end of the first lug being similarly provided). This pivot stud 2 has an inwardly hooked end as shown at 2, and the eye or pivot aperture 2 is elongated in a direction which is directly transverse to the wheel rim when the lug is in its normal oblique position on the rim. Upon considering this construction of these lugs for pivoting them together successively to form the complete system to encompass the wheel rim, it will be seen that upon the first lug being in any manner supported against or upon the wheel rim. the next lug being engaged with it by entering the pivot stud of the first through the pivot opening of the second. the 'two lugs being set at approximately the angle to each other which they will occupy on the tread rim. the hook end 2 of the pivot stud2 may be engaged under the wheel rim; and then the second lug being swung toward a directly transverse position on. the wheel rim to carry its own pivot stud sufiiciently beyond the opposite margin of the wheel rim or en tering it into the pivot opening of a third lug, the pivotal junction thus produced may be swung back to engage the hook 2 of said second lug also under the edge of the wheel rim; and thus continuing the procsee by engaging lug after lug until the entire wheel. rim is encompassed there will be formed on the tread rim a zigzag system 6f traction lit-gs each -'engaged with the rim, at one edge, alternate lugs being engaged with the opposite edges by the hook terminals 2 of the pivot studs, and ren'iaining sately thus engaged as long as the zigzag system is held sutiiciently extended and not allowed to collapse circumferentially oi? the wheel. Obviously for practical securement or this system on the wheel rim, means must be provided connecting the first and last lugs or the system in a manner permitting them to be drawn together to take up the slack or play of the entire system. This means consists of a special lug made in two parts and thereby adapted to be contracted and extended, and provided with means for contracting and. extending it, as required by the variations which can.- not be entirely avoided in the circumference of the tread rim and aggregate length of the lugs and play at their pivotal connections. Two forms of extensible and contractiblc special lugs are shown in the drawings. in Figure 4 this special lug (O'ii'iPllSGS two members 5 and 6, the memher 5 having the termination for pivotal connection correspoding to the end 2 of the standard lugs and the member 6 havin; the termination for pivotal connection corresponding to the opposite end of the lug 2. that is with the upraise 2 and the pivot stud 52 with its hook end 2 Each of the members 5 and 6 opposite the pivoted end is furnished with a hook, said hooks being indicated. at 5 and 6 respectively. said hooks facing back toward the pivoted end of the member. When these two special lug members 5 and 6 are connected respectively to the first and last standard lugs ot the system. they may be swung toward each other and lie parallel as seen in Figure 4, the hook end of each lodging against the side of the other and the two hooks facing each other. For occupying the interval between the two facing hooks and shortening the special lug formed by these two members, or permitting it to be lengthened as may be required for properly tightening up the lug system on the wheel rim I have provided a two part extensor. consisting of the members 7 and 8, one having a threaded bore and the other a threaded tang for screwing into the bore. to lengthen or shorten the extensor. The ends of said members 7 and 8 opposite the threaded ends are formed for seating in the books 5 and 6, having for that purpose cylindrical crossheads 7 and. S fitting the hooks. In practice, upon assembling the lug system on the wheel rim as described, ready for connecting up the first and last lugs by the tightening device, the two members 5 and 6 being connected respectively with the first and last lugs of the system will be themselves connected by the este' nsor at the dotted line Jll position shown in Figure 4, the extensor being adjusted as to its length'so as to properly engage the two hooks 5 and 6 when the two members 5 and 6' are thus somewhat separated and out of their final locking position side by side; and upon this engagement by means of the extensor being effected, any convenient means for swinging the said members 5 and 6 toward each other being'applied, the process of thus swinging them together will take up 7 the slack of the system, it being understood that the operator will estimate the slack as closely as possible and adjust the extensor accordingly; but if he over-estimates it and is thereby unable to swing the two members 5 and 6 together with the extensor between them, he will remove the extensor and readjust the two members, which can be done by short distances, a single half turn of the two extensor elements in re spect to each other being a minimum adjustment, which permits the use of a very substantial thread in the extensor, such for example as a" pitch, which affords the unit of adjustment of The extensor members have their hooks -5 and 6 positioned with respect to the pivot centers, so that in swinging the two extensor member s close together as shown in Figure 4, the line of stress between the two pivots of the ex tensor in the hooks of the members 5 and 6 is carried past the line of stress between the pivots of said members to the respeotively adjacent lugs of the system, thereby producing a-locked condition of the coupling. In order, however, to make this locked condition secure against accidental unbuckling ofthe coupling in road travel, there is provided a screw 8, set through the member 8, in position for engaging a tapped hole in the-extensor member which is to extensor member, when the two extensor members are closed together in locked position.

Another form of tightening device for the lug system is shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7. In this form the special lug comprises two members 3 and 4, which, as illustrated, are each L-shaped in cross section. their horizontal flanges seating on the tread rim and their vertical flanges back to back forming a traction rib. As in the form shown in Figure 4, one of the members, as

the member 3, has one end formed for pivoting to the last lug'of the system by having the upraise corresponding to 2 of the stand ard lug, indicated at 3 with respect to the special lug, (see Fig. 7) and having the pivot stud projecting from that upraised end, said pivoted stud in the special lug-being shown at 3 Figure 7; the other member 4 has its pivoted end formed correspondingly to the opposite end 2 of the standard and adapted to be be engaged with the hook of that I lug, as seen at 4 Figure 7, that" is having the eye for engagement of the pivot stud entered under the upraised end of the adjacent or last 111g of the assembled system. The stud 3 0 the member 3, and-the similarly indicated pivot stud of the lasting of the assembled-system are different in form from the standard pivot studs of the system in that they are longer than amount suflicient to accommodate the head of'a turn buckle below or inside of the wheel rim; and preferably-also they have insteadof the hook end 2 a small head 3 as shown in Figure 7. Each of the members 3 and 4 has an upraise nearits pivoted end, thatofthe member 3 being a mere continuation of the upraise 3 provided for, accommodating the end of the adjacent lug of the system, but that of the member 4 shown at 4 is specially provided for the purpose of this special coupling lug, which is'to accommodate a hook terminal of theother member, said hook terminal being shown at 3 and 4 on the members '3 and 4 respectively, extending under thenpraise of the other member and having upturned hook ends 3 and 4 for engaging said other memher, as clearly seen in Figure 6. It will be observed that this construction permits the two members 3 and 4 to slide longitudinally along each other to the extent of the upraise at 4 and 3 for lengthening and shortening this special two partlug. The turn buckle comprising members 1010, each having an eye for engaging the elongated pivot stud 3 and their approximate ends oppositely threaded and connected by the buckle mem ber 11, afford the means for extending and contracting'the two part lug 3-4, to accommodate the variation in the wheel rim and lugs and tighten the lug systemon the wheel rim. c

Amodified'form of lug and connections is shown in Figures 9to 14 inclusive. In this" form all'the' traction lugs 20, (except the coupling lug) are identical in form and each alike at both ends, having the upraise 20, provided with a downwardly projecting pivot stud 20 and the successive lugs'of-the system are connected together by connectors 30. These connectors 30, is a substantially triangular plate having in each corner a pivot aperture. Two of these apertures 30, 30 receive the pivot studs 30. ofthe' traction lugs to be connected by the connector. The third pivot aperture 30*, receives a pivot stud 40 of a hook member 40, which clasps-the connector to the-wheel rim l, said hook member having a; hook terminal 40 which engages inside the rim. The lugs 20, are shown provided with an upstanding traction rib-20 extending from end to end of the lug; and the connector plate 30, preferably has also atraction rib 20, upstanding between thepivot aperture 30*. v

The first and last lugs of the system extending zig-zag about the wheel rim are connected by a two-part coupling lug of either of the forms shown in Figures l or 6. lVhen the form shown in Figure 6 is employed the rim engaging end of both members of the coupling lug will be modified in form to conform substantially to the form of the hook 40, such conformation being shown in Figure l l consisting in extending to. the lug members 3 and 4 to form the hook 40., and terminating that hook with a downwardly projecting pivot stud ll), for engagement of the turn-buckle member 10.

Another modification of the traction lug system is shown in Figures to inclusive. In this form the traction lugs B, (except the coupling lug) are all alike but ditferently formed at the two ends, one end having an upraise B to accommodate under it the other end B of the adjacent lug; and the two lugs are connected together and engaged with the wheel rim 1, by a hook C, which is provided with a pivot stud G engaging the pivot apertures of the ends 13 and B of the lugs lapped one upon the other, the lapping and engagement of the hook with the lug ends being made when the lug last connected in the system is swung about its pivotal connection already made to a position at which the free end to be connected to the next lug overhangs the margin of the rim enough to permit the hook C of the hook member C, to clear the edge of the rim in the process of engaging the pivot stud G with the two lug ends to be connected, the lugs being then swung back to engage the hook end C inside the tread rim. In this form either form of coupling link may be employed for closing up and tightening the lug system on the wheel rim, the two members of the coupling lug being modified as to their ends for connection with the first and last lugs of the system when the form shown in Figure 6 is employed, as shown in Figure 20. The modification necessary consists in finishing each of the elements 3 and 4 for pivotal connection respectively with the first and last lugs of the system, by terminating them each in a hook C, having the pivot stud C for engaging the adjacent lug of the system and having pivot stud C for engagement to the turn-buckle.

A, fourth form of this invention is shown in Figures 21 to 23 inclusive. In this form all the traction lugs a, are identical in form but differently formed at their opposite ends, one end having an upraise a for accommodating under it the plain end of the adjacent lug, and having extended from said upraise a hook a having its terminal a engaging back of the tread rim 1. The opposite or plain end of the lug .is formed with a ho k. in the planes-if the lug, said hook 0?,

being turned in the direction of the acute angle to be formed between the lug and the lateral edge of the wheel rim, this hook engaging the radially-or vertically inturned hook of, of the adjacent lug as seen clearly in Figure 22. For rendering this hook engagement as safe as possible against slipping, the hook is formed with a marginal bead a, about which the hook a is curved, thus forming a sort of pivotal connection between the two hook features, which facilitates assembling the system of lugs on the wheel rim.

For coupling up the lug system when the lugs are in this form either of the forms ofcoupling lug shown in Figures 4 or 6 may be employed, suitably modifying their terminals for connection with the first and last lugs of the system. This modification in the case of the form shown in Figure 4: would be obvious consisting merely in terminating one of the members as 5. with a hook like the hook a and terminating the other member 6, with a hook like a To employ the form shown in Figure 6, the member 3, will be terminated as shown in Figure 24, that is having a hook (0 provided with a pivot stud a projecting from its hook end a, ibr engaging the turn-buckle member 10. The other member 4:, will be terminated as shown in Figure 25, with the hook (1, provided with a downward projecting stud a, reaching past the edge of the wheel rim for receiv ing the turn-buckle member 10.

When the form of coupling link shown in Figure 6 is employed or any form using a turn-buckle extending inside the wheel rim, the coupling link will be first placed in position on the wheel rim with the turn-buckle extending across the inside of the rim between two spokes so as to be readily engaged against one spoke for holding the traction lugs in position on the rim while they are being assembled around the rim. VVhe-n the form of coupling lug shown in Figure 4: is employed other means must be provided'for holding the first lug of the system and thereby holding the remainder of the system in position while assembling; and for this purpose the rim has a hole bored in it at any convenient point to receive a bolt 9, as shown in Figure 5, the hole being tapped for the bolt and counter-bored to accommodate the shoulder 9 and head 9. so that the bolt may be set in flush with the outer surface of the wheel rim as shown in Figure 5. The bolt will occupy this position when not in service for initially holding the lug system while assembling. When the lugs are to be assembled the bolt 9, will be withdrawn to position shown by dotted line on Figure 5, (the inner end of the bolt being upset after it .is inserted through the wheel rim as shown at 9 to prevent accidental loss) and theancxnber :6, of the coupling lug, "which has a projecting lug 6 at its free end provided of the shoulder 9 of the bolt 9, with an inleading opening 9 equal in width to the diameter of the threaded stem of the bolt 9, will be engaged with the bolt 9 by entering the bolt through the opening 9 and then screwing in the bolt to engage its shoulder 9 in the aperture 9. By this means the member 6, is hung loosely on the Wheel rim and may have the first lug of the system connected to it and will support the'remainder of the system as it is assembled around the wheel rim. When the assembly is completed and the second member 5, of the coupling lug connected and the system is ready for tightening, the bolt 9 will be withdrawn sin'ficiently' to disengage the lug nieniber 6;an :l when the system is tightened. up and the wheel is ready for service the bolt 9, will be set back into the rim with its head flush tight) so it will be safe against injury during travel. Y

1. In combination with a traction wheel rim, detachable traction means consisting of traction lugs, pivotally connected together in series and disposed zig-zag on the traction face of the rim, alternate junctions approximating the opposite lateral edges of the rim; hook devices extending from the junctions for engaging said edges, and coupling'means' for connecting the first and lastlugs of the series, consisting each of a two-member lug whose two members lap upon andengage each other, and means for forcibly adjusting the extentof their lap, for extending and contracting said two-member lug. i

2. In the construction defined in claim 1 foregoing, the two lapped members of the with an aperture 6, of the diameter.

and toward the other end (and may be set.

. other at coupling lug being in contact back toba-ck and having each toward one end an upraise,

jectinghook, the hook of each member being a transversely proextended under the upraise of the other and,

slidably engaged therewith, and a contractible connector extending inside the rim op poslte the twomembered coupling and con nected at its ends respectively with one of the parts involved in the junction of the v with the first or last lug of the coupling series.

3. In the construction defined in claim. 1"

foregoing, the traction lugs beingpivotally connected each to the preceding and succeeding lug of the series,"at junction points situated beyond the opposite side edges of the wheel rim.

d. In the construction defined in claim 1 foregoingthe traction lugs being connected together substantially at their ends. 7

5. In combination with a traction wheel rim, detachable traction means consisting of bars pivotally connected together in series and disposed zig-zag on thetraction face of the rim, one her being lapped outside the studs projecting rigidly from the outer lapped bars through the inner-lapped bars outside the rim; said pivot studs being extended radially of the Wheel past the rim each junction, and the pivots being 7 J In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of May,

nineteen nineteen.

CHARLES s. BURTON. 

